Lamar Odom attends first Lakers game since hospitalization
Talk about a warm welcome.
Former basketball star Lamar Odom received a standing ovation at the Staples Center in Los Angeles Wednesday night as he attended his first Lakers game since his hospitalization in October of last year.
Odom had reportedly been invited to the game by Kobe Bryant, who spent time with Odom both before and after the game, according to those in attendance.
Odom sat court-side with a friend for the game itself and told appreciative fans that being in the Staples Center again was "awesome" and, "I got goosebumps," according to TMZ.
Odom, a former player for both the L.A. Lakers and the Miami Heat, watched as the Lakers lost to the Heat on their home turf.
Lakers player Dwayne Wade, at least, saw Odom's presence as a way to mitigate the pain of defeat. "Made losing this game not matter 'as much' after getting a chance to spend time with my guy LO," Wade tweeted.
Odom was hospitalized in October after being found unconscious in a Nevada brothel.